title: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in a three-dimensional gelatin sponge scaffold attenuate inflammation, promote angiogenesis, and reduce cavity formation in experimental spinal cord injury.
abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) gelatin sponge (GS) scaffolds were constructed by ensheathing GS with a thin film of poly-(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). Rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated, cultured, and then seeded to the scaffolds. Distribution of cells  and cell growth, survival, and proliferation within the scaffolds were then determined. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis were employed to detect the deposition of fibronectin to the scaffolds on day 3 and day 7 of culture. Scaffolds with or without MSCs were then transplanted into  the transected rat spinal cord. One or 8 weeks following transplantation, cavity areas, activated macrophages/microglia, expression of TNF-α and IL-1β, and neovascularization within the grafts were examined and quantified. Deposition of fibronectin (FN) and expression of vascular  endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) as potential inducing factors for angiogenesis were also examined. Results showed that 3D GS scaffolds allowed MSCs to adhere, survive, and proliferate and also FN to deposit. In vivo transplantation experiments  demonstrated that these scaffolds were biocompatible, and MSCs seeded to the scaffolds played an important role in attenuating inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, and reducing cavity formation. Therefore, the GS scaffolds with MSCs may serve as promising supporting transplants for repairing  spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yuan-shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yuan-huan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Li-ya
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Bao-ling
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wood Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000662:veterinary; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055647:Rats, Transgenic; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D005780:Gelatin